Chapter 3 - Shadows of the Past
The penthouse on Fifth Avenue was silent save for the crackle of the fireplace.
Lily sat on the plush sofa, wrapped in a oversized cashmere blanket, eating a bowl of warm soup with hesitant, tiny bites. Baby Leo was asleep in a improvised crib made of soft pillows on the armchair.
Julian sat on the coffee table opposite Lily, his tuxedo jacket discarded, his sleeves rolled up. His fingers held the gold locket tightly.
"Lily," Julian began softly. "Can you tell me what happened before you came to the church?"
Lily swallowed her soup, her dark eyes wide and full of shadows too heavy for a six-year-old. "Mommy said we had to move again. We always move. The bad men with the tattoos were watching the apartment."
"Tattoos?" Julian’s brow furrowed. "What kind of tattoos?"
"A snake on the neck," Lily whispered, shivering. "Mommy packed our bags this morning. But when we opened the door, the men were there. Mommy pushed me and Leo into the fire escape door and locked it. She shouted through the glass... she said, 'Run to the church on Fifth Avenue, find Julian, give him the locket.'"
A heavy knock sounded at the penthouse door. Marcus ushered in David Vance—Julian’s estranged older brother, who had walked away from the family empire five years ago to run a private intelligence firm.
David took off his wet coat, his sharp eyes taking in the scene instantly. "I saw the news, Julian. The media is having a field day. Victoria’s father is pulling his investments."
"I don't care about the money, David," Julian said, standing up. "Look at her."
David looked at Lily. A moment of profound shock crossed his face. "She has Clara’s eyes. My God, Julian..."
"Clara didn't abandon me seven years ago," Julian said, his voice laced with venom. "Mother lied to me. She told me Clara took five million dollars to walk away. But Clara was pregnant. She’s been hiding for seven years. And now someone took her."
David walked over, his expression darkening. "I ran a quick check on the address listed under Clara’s name in Queens. Her apartment was ransacked two hours ago. The door was kicked in. But here’s the kicker, Julian... the surveillance cameras on her street weren't turned off by amateur street thugs. They were wiped using military-grade cyber jamming."
Julian’s eyes narrowed. "Street gangs don't use military tech."
"No," David said quietly. "Private security firms do. The kind of firms our mother hires to clean up 'family problems.'"
Julian felt the blood drain from his face, replaced by a scorching, unstoppable rage. "You think Mother had her kidnapped?"
"Either her, or Victoria’s father," David replied. "If Clara reappeared with your son and daughter, the Vance-Sterling merger would be completely ruined. The inheritance would go to your children, not Victoria’s future heirs. Millions of dollars are at stake, Julian. People kill for far less."
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Lily suddenly reached out, her small hand touching Julian’s knee. "Is Mommy coming back?"
Julian looked down at his daughter, dropping to his knees and taking her tiny hand in his. "I promise you, Lily... I will bring your mommy home. No matter what it takes."
